U.S. patent application number 11/131110 was filed with the patent office on 2005-09-15 for material relocation apparatus.
Invention is credited to Johnston, Gary Lawrence.
Application Number | 20050201853 11/131110 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27055261 |
Filed Date | 2005-09-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050201853 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Johnston, Gary Lawrence |
September 15, 2005 |
Material relocation apparatus
Abstract
A material relocation apparatus is provided which enables an
operator to load, transport, and unload material, while the
apparatus may be moving in the forward and backward directions. The
apparatus includes a frame structure means, a material handling
means, and a power transfer means, with the material handling means
and the power transfer means being mounted on the frame structure
means. The material relocation means is a conventional type of load
bucket, commonly found on construction equipment. It is pivotally
mounted to the rear of the frame structure means, and is capable of
pivoting in both the forward and backward directions via the power
transfer means. An optional item may include an attachment
component for attaching the apparatus to a piece of construction
equipment or farm equipment, such as a tractor. The apparatus may
also be part of a motorized vehicle, in which case the attachment
component is not required. The apparatus may also have a wheel
assembly mounted on the frame structure means, which would reduce
the load felt by the lift of a tractor. The wheel assembly may also
be used to change the ratio of the lift travel distance to the
bucket travel distance, when the apparatus is connected to the lift
of a tractor.
Inventors: |
Johnston, Gary Lawrence;
(Cowarts, AL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Gary Johnston
P.O.Box 183
Cowarts
AL
36321
US
|
Family ID: |
27055261 |
Appl. No.: |
11/131110 |
Filed: |
May 17, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11131110 |
May 17, 2005 |
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10236132 |
Sep 6, 2002 |
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6896472 |
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10236132 |
Sep 6, 2002 |
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09725773 |
Nov 29, 2000 |
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09725773 |
Nov 29, 2000 |
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09505799 |
Feb 17, 2000 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
414/607 ;
414/642; 414/703 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E02F 3/3417
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
414/607 ;
414/642; 414/703 |
International
Class: |
B66F 009/12 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A material relocation apparatus comprising; a frame structure
means having a front area and a rear area; a generally upright
bucket means pivotally mounted at its general bottom center to the
general rear area of said frame structure means; a power transfer
means comprising at least one conventional cylinder means having an
accompanying piston means, said cylinder means mounted to the
general front area of said frame structure means; and a linkage
means for connecting said piston means and said bucket means, such
that the extension of said piston means pivots said bucket means in
the general backward direction, and the retraction of said pivot
means pivots said bucket means in the general forward direction;
whereby said apparatus may be part of a motorized vehicle, or
attached to a motorized vehicle through an attachment means mounted
to the front area of said frame structure means, said motorized
vehicle having a hydraulic supply operatively connected to said
cylinder means, said hydraulic supply used to extend and retract
said piston, with the open end of said bucket means pointing in the
general backward direction when said piston means is fully
extended, and the open end of said bucket means is pointing in the
general forward direction when said piston means is fully
retracted, with the point of connection between said linkage means
and said bucket means forming a reciprocating arcuate path when
said bucket means is pivoted.
2. A material relocation apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said
cylinder means being pivotally mounted at its front end to said
support member of said frame structure means, and said piston means
being rigidly mounted at its rear end to a linkage member, said
linkage member being pivotally mounted to said bucket means;
3. A material relocation apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said
cylinder means being rigidly mounted at its front end to said
support member of said frame structure means, and said piston being
pivotally mounted at its rear end to said linkage member.
4. A material relocation apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said
generally horizontal support member of said frame structure means
having base openings, said bucket means having generally horizontal
support components mounted at its bottom and extending in the side
directions, said components size to pivotally fit within the base
openings of said support member such that said bucket means may be
pivotally attached.
5. A material relocation apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further
comprising a wheel assembly mounted to said support member of said
frame structure means, at a location which is generally foward of
said bucket means.
6. A material relocation apparatus as claimed in claim 5, said
wheel assembly be securable at different locations along said
support member of said frame structure means.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 10/236,132, filed on Sep. 6, 2002, which
itself is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 09/725,773, filed on Nov. 29, 2000, now abandoned, which itself
is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
09/505,799, filed on Feb. 17, 2000, and also now abandoned.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to a material relocation apparatus
which may be used to load and unload material in both the forward
and backward directions. There are instances where relatively
smaller amounts of material, such as soil, rock, debris, etc., may
need to be transported from one location to another. This device
allows an easy way for the material to be loaded, transported, and
then unloaded, using a light construction device such as a tractor.
The apparatus may also be part of a motorized vehicle whose main
purpose is to load, trabsport, and unload material. Given the fact
that there are a large number of light construction equipment and
farm equipment available in the marketplace, it has come as a
surprise that no one has developed an easy and effective piece of
equipment which allows relatively samller amounts of material to be
easily loaded and unloaded in both the forward and backward
directions.
SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0003] It is the object of this invention to provide a material
relocation apparatus which may be used to load, transport, and
unload relatively smaller amounts of material from one location to
another. The main purpose of this application is to demonstrate an
apparatus which performs the stated function, and to demonstrate
the many options and configurations this apparatus may take on.
[0004] Briefly stated, the apparatus that forms the basis of the
present invention comprises a frame structure means, a material
handling means, and a power transfer means means. The material
handling means and the power transfer means are mounted upon the
frame structure means. The frame structure means may also include
an attachment component for attaching the apparatus to a motorized
piece of equipment, such as a farm or construction tractor, a bull
dozer, etc. Alternately, the apparatus may be a built-in component
of a motorozed vehicle whose primary purpose is to load, transport,
and unload material.
[0005] The design of the apparatus is such that the material
handling means is pivotally mounted on the device frame, and the
power transfer means is used to pivotally move the material
handling means in both the forward and backward directions. The
power transfer means may itself be rigidly mounted to the frame
strcuture means, with a portion pivoting in the upward and downward
directions. Alternately, the entire power transfer means may be
pivotally mounted to the frame strcuture means and pivotally move
in the upward and downward directions. In either instance, material
may be loaded into the material handling means while the apparatus
is being pulled or pushed, with the material handling means being
positioned in either the respective forward or backward directions.
The material handling means may also be positioned upright so that
material is contained within the material handling means. The
material may then be transported to another location and unloaded,
in either the forward or backward direction.
[0006] Other obects, features, and advantages for this invention
will be apparent from the following detailed description and the
appended claims, references being made to the accompanying drawings
forming a part of the specification, wherein like reference
numerals designate corresponding parts of the several views.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1A is a side view of the material relocation
apparatus.
[0008] FIG. 1B is a top view of the material relocation
apparatus.
[0009] FIG. 1C is a front view of the material relocation
apparatus.
[0010] FIG. 2A is a side view of the frame structure means of the
material relocation apparatus.
[0011] FIG. 2B is a top view of the frame structure means of the
material relocation apparatus.
[0012] FIG. 2C is a front view of the frame structure means of the
material relocation apparatus.
[0013] FIG. 3A is a side view of the water collection means of the
material relocation apparatus.
[0014] FIG. 3B is a top view of the power transfer means of the
material relocation apparatus.
[0015] FIG. 3C is a front view of the power transfer means of the
material relocation apparatus.
[0016] FIG. 4A is a side view of the material handling means of the
material relocation apparatus.
[0017] FIG. 4B is a top view of the material handling means of the
material relocation apparatus.
[0018] FIG. 4C is a front view of the material handling means of
the material relocation apparatus.
[0019] FIG. 5A is a side view of the material handling means of the
material relocation apparatus in a position where it may be used to
load or unload material in the forward direction.
[0020] FIG. 5B is a side view of the material handling means of the
material relocation apparatus in a position where it may be used to
load or unload material in the backward direction.
[0021] FIG. 5C is a side view of the material handling means of the
material relocation apparatus in an upright position for
transporting material from one location to another.
[0022] FIG. 6 is a side view of an alternative mounting
configuration for the power transfer means of the material
relocation apparatus.
[0023] FIG. 7 is a side view of the material relocation apparatus
having a wheel assembly.
[0024] FIG. 8 is a side view of the material relocation apparatus
being attached to the lift of a tractor.
[0025] FIGS. 9 and 10 are side views of the material relocation
apparatus being attached to the lift of a tractor and having a
wheel assembly mounted to the frame structure means between the
attachment means and bucket means. The figures demonstrate how a
wheel assembly mounted this way will cause the bucket means to
raise when the tractor lift is lowered, and will cause the bucket
means to lower when the tractor lift is raised.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0026] Before explaining in detail the present invention, it is to
be understood that the invention is not limited in its application
to the details of construction or arrangement of parts illustrated
in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of
other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various
ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and
terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description, and
not limitation.
[0027] As best can be seen by references to the drawings, and in
particular to FIGS. 1A-1C, the material relocation apparatus that
forms the basis of the present invention is designated generally by
the reference numeral 10, and includes a frame structure means 20,
a material handling means 40, and a power transfer means 30. The
power transfer means 30 and the material handling means 40 mount
upon frame structure means 20.
[0028] As may been seen in FIGS. 2A-2C, frame structure means 20
may comprise a base 21 with base openings 22. Attachment component
23 is an optional type item which mounts to base 21 and may be used
to mount the apparatus to a motorized vehicle, such as a tractor.
As previously stated, the apparatus may also be a built-in
component of a motorized vehicle whose primary purpose is to load,
transport, and unload material. In these cases, the attachment
component is not needed.
[0029] As may also be seen in FIGS. 3A-3C, the power transfer means
30 may comprise a power component 31 with linkage member 39. Power
component 31 is a typical cylinder-actuator (cylinder-piston) type
power component well known in the industry, and is comprised of an
air-tight cylinder 32, actuator 33, first tube 34, and second tube
35. In this particular design, cylinder 32 is rigidly mounted to
base 21, while linkage member 39 is pivotally mounted at one end to
actuator 33, through linkage openings 36. As will be shown later,
other configurations are possible.
[0030] As may be seen in FIGS. 4A-4C, the material handling means
40 is comprised of a handling component 41 with pivot members 42
and engagement members 43. Pivot members 42 are used to pivotally
mount handling component 41 to structure frame means 20, while
engaging members 43 are used to pivotally mount linkage member 39
of power transfer means 30 to the handling component 41. Handling
component 41 is a typical bucket means commonly used in the
construction industry.
[0031] The operation of the material relocation apparatus 10 may be
seen in FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C. As may be seen in FIG. 5A, the first
tube 34 and second tube 35 may connect to the hydraulic supply of a
piece of equipment, such as a tractor. Hydraulic fluid may be
pumped into the cylinder 32 through second tube 35, and out of
first tube 34, causing the actuator 33 to move in the forward
direction. The actuator 33 will pull linkage member 39 in the
forward direction. Since linkage member 39 is pivotally connected
to handling component 41 through engagement members 43, and
handling component 41 is pivotally mounted to base 21, handling
component 41 will pivot in the forward direction. The open end of
handling component 41 will be pointing in the generally forward
direction when the actuator 33 is fully retracted. As material,
such as soil, rock, and debris, come in contact with the material
handling component 41 while in this position, with the apparatus
moving forward, some of the material will begin to load into the
material handling component 41. Also while in this position and
with the apparatus moving forward, the handling component 41 may
act as construction blade for leveling material.
[0032] As may be seen in FIG. 5B, hydraulic fluid may also be
pumped into the cylinder 32 through first tube 34, and out of
second tube 34, causing the actuator 33 to move in the backward
direction. The actuator 33 will push linkage member 39 in the
backward direction. Again, since the linkage member 39 is pivotally
connected to the handling component 41, handling component 41 will
pivot in the backward direction. The open end of handling component
41 will be pointing in the generally backward direction when the
actuator 33 is fully extended. As material such as soil, rock, and
debris come into contact with the material handling component 41
while in this position, with the apparatus moving backward, some of
the material will begin to load into the material handling
component 41. Also while in this position and with the apparatus
moving backward, the handling component 41 may act as a
construction blade for leveling material.
[0033] As may be seen in FIG. 5C, hydraulic fluid may be added to
and removed from the cylinder so that the actuator is in a
relatively middle position. This will result in the material
handling component 41 being positioned relative upright, allowing
the material being loaded to be contained within the component and
transported to a different location. Once at the new location, the
material may then be unloaded by positioning the material handling
means 41 in one of the positions shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B,
depending upon which direction of unloading is preferred. Also,
material may be manually loaded into handling component 41 while in
this relatively upright position. Various stops or blocks may be
used to limit the amount handling component 41 may pivot in ther
forward and bcakward directions.
[0034] FIG. 6 demonstrates another mounting configuration for the
power transfer means 30. Shown in the previous diagrams is a
cylinder 32 rigidly mounted to base 21, with a linkage member 33
pivotally mounted to the cylinder actuator 33. In this alternate
configuration, the cylinder 33 is itself pivotally mounted to the
base 21, with linkage member 33 now rigidly mounted to actuator 33.
In this configuration, the entire power transfer means 30 pivots in
the upward and downward directions, while before, only the linkage
member 33 pivoted in the upward and downward directions. Therefore
it may be said that in both configurations, at least a portion of
the power transfer means 30 pivots in the upward and downward
directions.
[0035] FIG. 7 demonstrates a wheel assembly 50 which may be mounted
to the base 21 to reduce the amount of load felt by the end of the
motorized vehicle onto which the apparartus is attached or is a
built-in component thereof. FIG. 8 demonstrates the material
relocation apparatus attached to the lift 51 of a tractor.
[0036] FIGS. 9 and 10 demonstrate the material relocation apparatus
with a wheel asembly 50 mounted to the base 21 of frame structure
means 20, to the general front of the material handling component
41. In this instance, the wheel assembly not only reduces the
amount of load felt by the lifting end of the motorized vehicle,
but also allows the operator to pivot the material handling
component 41 about the wheel asembly 50. For example, when the
apparatus is connected to the lift 51 of a tractor, raising the
lift 51 will cause the material handling component to pivot
downward, while lowering the lift 51 will cause the material
handling component to pivot upward. This is opposite of the
configuration where no wheel is used, or to where the wheel
assembly 50 is mounted to the back of material handling component
41. The position of the wheel assembly 50 along the base 21 will
determine the ratio of lift 51 travel distance to the material
handling component 41 travel distance. It is possible to have a
means for moving and securing the wheel assembly 50 at different
intervals along base 21. The operator could configure the apparatus
for the desired ratio of lift 51 travel distance to the material
handling component 41 travel distance.
[0037] Many variations of the material relocation apparatus exist,
along with the configurations described above. While it will be
apparent that the preferred embodiment of the invention herein
disclosed is well calculated to fulfill the objects above stated,
it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to
modification, variation, and change without departing from the
proper scope or fair meaning of the subjoined claims.
* * * * *